What are Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials are research studies in which people volunteer to help find answers to specific health questions.
There are many different kinds of clinical trials. They can study how to prevent, detect, or treat disease and might involve testing new drugs or combinations of drugs, new devices, new ways of doing surgery, new ways to use existing treatments, new ways to change behaviors to improve health and/or new ways to improve the quality of life of people living with scleroderma. All clinical trials must follow strict rules set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
After researchers test new treatments or procedures in the lab and sometimes with animals, the most promising treatments are moved into clinical trials. As new treatments move through trial phases, information is gained about the treatment, its risks, and its effectiveness. Your involvement can help researchers uncover better ways to treat, prevent, diagnose, and understand scleroderma.
Essentials of Clinical Trials—A Patient’s Guide
Presented by Peter Merkel, MD (Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and Chief of the Division of Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) in June 2023
Learn about clinical trials as Dr. Merkel explains what they are, how you can participate, why you want to participate, and what to expect as a participant. This presentation is a must-watch for anyone wanting to learn about clinical trials.
More Clinical Trial Resources
For general information about what clinical trials are and why you might consider participating in one, visit:
Basics About Clinical Trials | FDA
NIH Clinical Research Trials and You | National Institutes of Health (NIH)
CLINICAL TRIAL PARTICIPATION
Join the quest to advance systemic sclerosis research through CONQUEST.
Consider enrolling in the CONQUEST study, a scleroderma clinical trial for people with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). Participants help progress research to potentially uncover new SSc-ILD treatment options.